Attending an interview

If you're not from a low risk country, then as part of your visa application you may be required to attend a short interview at a visa application centre.

Credibility interviews

The interview will focus on your reason for coming to the UK – this is known as a credibility interview. An immigration officer may ask you questions about your immigration history, your previous education, the course you are planning to study with us, your post study plans and your financial circumstances.

If you do not attend this interview without a good reason, your application will be refused.

You should be able to answer the questions at the interview without the assistance of an interpreter and to a standard that matches the English Language requirements that are stated on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

Preparation help

To help you prepare for this interview, here are some examples of the types of questions you may be asked.

if you're going back to education after a long break from studying, you should be prepared to explain why you have chosen to do this, as well as:

how studying this course will help with your future plans.

how this course fits in with any previous courses you have done.

You should know the following details of your course at the University, including:

how long your course is

what modules you will be studying

how you will be assessed

what qualification you will receive at the end of your course

whether the course offers any professional qualifications/recognition

why you have chosen not to study this course in your home country.

You should also know some details about us. For example, you may be asked:

where Cardiff is in the UK

how big the University is

why you chose to study with us

what other places you considered.

You should not be asked about your academic ability to follow the course, as we have already assessed this.

Here are some examples of things you may be asked about your finances:

If the money you have shown for your application is genuinely available to you.

Who is financing your studies.

The profession of your financial sponsor and what relationship they are to you.

Whether you have evidence of the financial status of your financial sponsor (eg current bank statements).

If you have a loan, you may be asked how you plan to pay this back.

You should know some details about the cost of living and studying in the UK. For example, you may be asked:

How much your tuition fees are and when you are paying them.

Where you are planning to live and how much it will cost.

What your anticipated annual living expenses will be while you are studying with us.

If you are planning on working, whether you know how many hours you are allowed to work, and how much you are likely to be paid.

How reliant you are on being able to work.

What happens next

A report of the interview will be sent to the visa officer who will consider it alongside your visa application and supporting documents. You may be called for an additional interview if the visa officer needs more information.

If you're refused a visa

You have 28 days from the date of the refusal notice to submit a request for an Administrative Review. The request should be made in writing and should state why the reasons given in your refusal notice are incorrect.